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Riga Hayworth #4
The Elemental Detective
Mermaids, menehunes, and murder.
Riga Hayworth just wants to relax with her new husband on their Hawaiian honeymoon. But a body on a Kauai beach pulls them into a murder investigation, sending the supernatural world into an uproar.
When Riga detects traces of magic at a murder scene, she knows she can’t ignore the call. There’s necromancy afoot, and she must prepare for the battle to come. But can Riga fight the forces of nature? Or will they destroy her and everyone she loves?
Book five in the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mystery novels, The Elemental Detective is a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy blending romance with the supernatural, and exploring the magic of Hawaii.
213 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 16, 2013
51 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Weiss
110 books1,302 followersKirsten Weiss writes laugh-out-loud, page-turning mysteries. Her heroines aren’t perfect, but they’re smart, they struggle, and they succeed. Kirsten writes in a house high on a hill in the Colorado woods and occasionally ventures out for wine and chocolate. Or for a visit to the local pie shop.
She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
She is best known for her cozy and witch mystery novels. So if you like funny, action-packed mysteries with complicated heroines, just turn the page…
Kirsten sends out original short stories of mystery and magic to her mailing list. If you’d like to get them delivered straight to your inbox, make sure to sign up for her newsletter at kirstenweiss.com
Feel free to follow her on Twitter @KirstenWeiss or Bookbub, get in touch on Facebook, post a picture of this book to Instagram and tag her @kirstenweissauthor, or send her an email. She’ll answer you personally…which may be a good or a bad thing, depending on your perspective.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 29, 2025
Mermaids, menehunes, and murder. Riga Hayworth just wants to relax with her new husband on their Hawaiian honeymoon. But a body on a Kauai beach pulls them into a murder investigation, sending the supernatural world into an uproar.
When Riga detects traces of magic at a murder scene, she knows she can’t ignore the call. There’s necromancy afoot, and she must prepare for the battle to come. But can Riga fight the forces of nature? Or will they destroy her and everyone she loves?
Book five in the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mystery novels, The Elemental Detective is a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy blending romance with the supernatural, and exploring the magic of Hawaii.
When Riga detects traces of magic at a murder scene, she knows she can’t ignore the call. There’s necromancy afoot, and she must prepare for the battle to come. But can Riga fight the forces of nature? Or will they destroy her and everyone she loves?
Book five in the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mystery novels, The Elemental Detective is a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy blending romance with the supernatural, and exploring the magic of Hawaii.
September 24, 2021
At last, enough Donovan! Good. It is their honeymoon after all, though murder, necromancy and naughty fairies do their best to put a damper on that.
It was a good read, better than the last few. Cohesive case, sweet scenes between the newlyweds, an interesting insight into Hawaiian magic beliefs and for once the end didn’t feel as rushed.
Hopefully, the author keeps that trend up now that the honeymoon is over.
It was a good read, better than the last few. Cohesive case, sweet scenes between the newlyweds, an interesting insight into Hawaiian magic beliefs and for once the end didn’t feel as rushed.
Hopefully, the author keeps that trend up now that the honeymoon is over.
September 6, 2022
No surprise that Riga and Donovan can't even go on their honeymoon without finding a body and the adventure began there. Set in beautiful Hawaii they search for answers in beautiful settings with some not so beautiful people. With all the unexpected twists and turns, they race to find a murder before they become his final victims. Kept in suspense until the surprising end this book is a definite must read.
July 17, 2020
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the ones that came before it, but I think it was due to the location. For whatever reason, it just didn't hold my interest enough. Still, the writing was great, and as always, I wasn't sure until the very end who the killer actually was. Already started the next book! Love this series!!
December 12, 2019
Magical Honeymoon???
Donovan, Riga and Brigitte on a Hawaiian honeymoon. What could possibly go wrong? Great read. Love the characters and the setting.
Donovan, Riga and Brigitte on a Hawaiian honeymoon. What could possibly go wrong? Great read. Love the characters and the setting.
June 27, 2020
Riga and Donovan spend their honeymoon in Hawair. And of course there's a ghost, and menehune, and dead bodies.
March 1, 2017
Excellent! This series gets better with every book. In this one Riga and company encounter elemental magic in the Hawaiian Islands. I love the inclusion of the Hawaiian fae along with all the new magical beings we encounter while still dealing with people in the real world.
April 4, 2014
The Elemental Detective is the fifth installment in the Riga Hayworth series. Riga is a lovely woman who bears a striking resemblance to the famous actress from the 1940s. She is also a metaphysical detective who finds it her responsibility and calling to investigate crimes and/or unusual occurrences involving the supernatural and supernatural baddies. Over the prior four installments she has faced off with many different foes, as well as experienced changes in her own metaphysical/psychic powers and abilities. This story opens with Riga and her new hunky hubby on their honeymoon in Hawaii. She wants nothing more than to kick back, relax, and forget all the craziness and mayhem they have gone through over the past months and enjoy her man and their time together. She is tired and wants nothing much to do with the world of other and the constant mantra seems to be this is supposed to be my honeymoon . . . Well it is definitely a truism that sometimes life just does not happen the way we want and this certainly can be said for Riga, who is definitely not pleased about the interruption once again in her life. Not only does her faithful friend gargoyle show up, but there are bodies found, black necromancy stirring the air, pooka appearances, and the call of new elemental magic seeking Riga drawing her in and coming on board. The more she resists, the greater the threat becomes and poof the mayhem box opens again. The writing style continues to be clean and smooth with some wonderful world building with a peak at new mystical beings and culture. This was a very enjoyable read with continued character growth and while it was not my personal favorite in the series, it is definitely not an installment for fans of the series to miss. I would suggest starting at least with book one, The Metaphysical Detective, however, if you are new to the series as there is too much backstory that would be missed beginning with this installment. I am very much looking forward to Riga's next adventure and have every intention of continuing on with the series and recommend to those who enjoy bit of mystery with some mystical mayhem and colorful characters thrown in the mix. I received this book from the author with a request for my honest review without any compensation whatsoever, other than the joy of reading a new book.
May 17, 2014
The Elemental Detective,Kirsten Weiss
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
This is book five in the series, I jumped in at book four so some of the characters are still unfamiliar to me, but its still easy to follow the story. Its written in a style that's uncomplicated and which makes everything flow neatly. After the disasters around the wedding Riga is hoping for some peace on her honeymoon. Faint hope ! Magic and problems seem to follow her around, and they are soon enmeshed in a murder she knows magic has been involved in. Strange things happen around them, her magic and talents seem to be not quite right, and unusually Donovan seems to be attracting the magic of the island to him, with odd occurrences around him. There are supernatural creatures unfamiliar to Riga involved in the murder, and its a mystery that unfolds and deepens all the while. I had no idea who or what was behind events, and that's always good. So many novels are predictable' and while that can work its always fun to be taken by surprise.
The island of Hawaii makes a perfect setting for this book, it has a feeling of magic about it anyway, and so when Kirsten adds in supernatural creatures and events they seem real. Even in fantasy I need to feel that creatures and things the happen could possibly be genuine. A kind of suspension of the realities of life but with one foot – just the tip of a toe maybe ;) - grounded in real life....I want to feel I could be there in the setting with them, feeling what they feel, working out the puxzzle as it is revealed. Add in the characters of Riga and Donovan who make a perfect couple, I love the rapport they have, they work well together, play off each other and have a fabulous feeling of genuine romance between them, and then their family and friend – and of course Birgitte ( I love her and that accent) and its a cast guaranteed to keep the reader entertained.
A great read, full of love and fun, happiness and horror, murder and mayhem and magical mysteries with Riga and Donovan learning new skills and phenomenons.
Stars: four and a half. A great addition to the series.
ARC supplied by author.
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
This is book five in the series, I jumped in at book four so some of the characters are still unfamiliar to me, but its still easy to follow the story. Its written in a style that's uncomplicated and which makes everything flow neatly. After the disasters around the wedding Riga is hoping for some peace on her honeymoon. Faint hope ! Magic and problems seem to follow her around, and they are soon enmeshed in a murder she knows magic has been involved in. Strange things happen around them, her magic and talents seem to be not quite right, and unusually Donovan seems to be attracting the magic of the island to him, with odd occurrences around him. There are supernatural creatures unfamiliar to Riga involved in the murder, and its a mystery that unfolds and deepens all the while. I had no idea who or what was behind events, and that's always good. So many novels are predictable' and while that can work its always fun to be taken by surprise.
The island of Hawaii makes a perfect setting for this book, it has a feeling of magic about it anyway, and so when Kirsten adds in supernatural creatures and events they seem real. Even in fantasy I need to feel that creatures and things the happen could possibly be genuine. A kind of suspension of the realities of life but with one foot – just the tip of a toe maybe ;) - grounded in real life....I want to feel I could be there in the setting with them, feeling what they feel, working out the puxzzle as it is revealed. Add in the characters of Riga and Donovan who make a perfect couple, I love the rapport they have, they work well together, play off each other and have a fabulous feeling of genuine romance between them, and then their family and friend – and of course Birgitte ( I love her and that accent) and its a cast guaranteed to keep the reader entertained.
A great read, full of love and fun, happiness and horror, murder and mayhem and magical mysteries with Riga and Donovan learning new skills and phenomenons.
Stars: four and a half. A great addition to the series.
ARC supplied by author.
January 27, 2014
You can take the lady away from her usual haunts, but you can't keep danger from finding her. Riga's like a metaphysical magnet, pulling all the unusual things around her into her orbit. Including Donovan, come to think of it. Which (and keep in mind, I stepped into this series at book 4 so I might have missed this in the earlier books) (and now I've lost my train of thought after that aside. DANGIT!)... *looks around* I guess I was trying to say that it feels like there's more to Donovan than what we see. Based on some of the things that happen here, I am SO intrigued by him and the way he complements Riga.
This time around, Riga is drawn into something big. She still doesn't have a handle on her power... or, it's more like she's still trying to figure out what works for her since what she found out in the last book. She's floundering in some ways and she's unsure of herself, which strikes me as something that's not normal for her.
The ebb and flow of magic on the islands fascinates her but she hasn't quite found her rhythm within it. I liked watching her sort through the threads of the case and (sometimes grudgingly) step back to let Donovan take the lead. I just... like those two together. They're like puzzle pieces that fit.
Fun and fast-paced with a little ghostly goodness thrown in for good measure. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
This time around, Riga is drawn into something big. She still doesn't have a handle on her power... or, it's more like she's still trying to figure out what works for her since what she found out in the last book. She's floundering in some ways and she's unsure of herself, which strikes me as something that's not normal for her.
The ebb and flow of magic on the islands fascinates her but she hasn't quite found her rhythm within it. I liked watching her sort through the threads of the case and (sometimes grudgingly) step back to let Donovan take the lead. I just... like those two together. They're like puzzle pieces that fit.
Fun and fast-paced with a little ghostly goodness thrown in for good measure. *thumbs up*
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
April 26, 2014
I had a lot of fun learning about Hawaiian magic and menehunes. Never heard of them before.
What should have been a wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii for Donovan and Riga, one long overdue, turns into a murder mystery when they come upon a murdered seal and a murdered man lying side by side on the beach.
Riga notices the magic symbols etched in the sand and jumps into the case. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?
Riga and Donovan are the perfect couple. They both have magical capabilities and both like a good mystery. They compliment each other at work and in love. I loved following their romance from first meeting all the way through their honeymoon.
The author really did her research, bringing Hawaiian myths to the story and describing the lush scenery in vivid color.
Once the story gets rolling, the danger rushes in and the suspects emerge. I really wasn’t sure who was behind the murders and whether it was caused by human hands or magical. Finding out what was behind it was an even bigger mystery.
It’s been such fun following this series, seeing how the characters grow with each lesson life served up. I hope there will be more. It’s hard to let go of characters I’ve grown to love.
I received this book for my honest review.
What should have been a wonderful honeymoon in Hawaii for Donovan and Riga, one long overdue, turns into a murder mystery when they come upon a murdered seal and a murdered man lying side by side on the beach.
Riga notices the magic symbols etched in the sand and jumps into the case. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?
Riga and Donovan are the perfect couple. They both have magical capabilities and both like a good mystery. They compliment each other at work and in love. I loved following their romance from first meeting all the way through their honeymoon.
The author really did her research, bringing Hawaiian myths to the story and describing the lush scenery in vivid color.
Once the story gets rolling, the danger rushes in and the suspects emerge. I really wasn’t sure who was behind the murders and whether it was caused by human hands or magical. Finding out what was behind it was an even bigger mystery.
It’s been such fun following this series, seeing how the characters grow with each lesson life served up. I hope there will be more. It’s hard to let go of characters I’ve grown to love.
I received this book for my honest review.
October 25, 2015
Awesome. This series gets increasingly better with each book. Set in Hawaii and reflecting Hawaiian magical traditions, Riga and Donovan investigate several murders, human and otherwise.
Riga gains more skill with her changing magic and Donovan manifests his own, unique, power while Brigitte is her gargoyle self. Really good mystery, though more on why the villainy would have been welcome...however, there may be no more Why than that some villains are just evil villains.
Riga gains more skill with her changing magic and Donovan manifests his own, unique, power while Brigitte is her gargoyle self. Really good mystery, though more on why the villainy would have been welcome...however, there may be no more Why than that some villains are just evil villains.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews